Need Ideas For Retractable Casters On Steel Table

[jonlb]

I need a little inspiration. I have a steel table that is roughly 300 pounds that I would like to occasionally move around the shop. I purchased 4 heavy duty casters but can't seem to think of a way to have the table roll and then retract the casters when I need it to be stationary. Any ideas?

 

[Shadowdog500]

I've seen heavy welding type of tables that are built onto heavy duty casters that have screw type jack pads near the wheels that you screw down when you want the table to be stable. Another benefit is that you can use the pads to take up any variation from slightly uneven floors when you are working.

Chris

 

[porschedude996TT]

I have a Kennedy Rolling Work Bench that has two fixed wheels and two caster wheels and a lift foot on the caster wheel end of it. It is very stable since it sits on three points.

 

[ket-tek]

I'm looking to build a mobile welding table to replace the small cart I've been using, and also very interested in see more ideas of either lifting or locking down the table after rolling into place.

I've seen the casters with screw-down stops, but I move the table alot to position it away from cars in the garage when grinding, I'd like something quicker and no bending over to engage/disengage. I will spin or move the table to keep the sparks throwing in the same direction instead of walking around the table.

Maybe use air cylinders like some race cars have that lift them off the ground for tire changes instead of manual jacks. Roll it in place and hit the switch.. haha

 

[machine_punk]

Here is how I move my massive wooden bench with a 1200-pound 3-in-1 machine on it. I built the leg cross pieces at the correct height for my 12-ton, air-over-hydraulic jack, then lift the bench up onto wheel dollies to move it around. Once you set the bench back down, it is as stable as a boulder...
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For smaller benches, you can use wheels this way, on one end, and lift it up like a wheelbarrow on the other end (could use a car jack for that on your 300-pound welding table)...
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Kev

 

[Cobra4B]

Maybe use air cylinders like some race cars have that lift them off the ground for tire changes instead of manual jacks. Roll it in place and hit the switch.. haha

You could build a whole bunch of cool tables for what those kits cost. Plus they operate at like 300 psi.

I'm going to build a metal roll-around table one of these days... subscribed for ideas.

 

[DIC]

You could mount two straight rolling wheels on one end on the outer side of legs barely off the floor and mount a crank up trailer jack with a caster on the other end...

 

[DIM Fab]

I thought this solution was nifty when I saw it. Have always thought I'd do something similar when I make my own welding table.

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

Here are some great ones.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/20...ine-leveling-caster-plate-mounted-4-pack.aspx

 

[cokeb5]

a little hard to explain, my table lifts up and down via a cam system, the casters are mounted to 2x2 square tube between the legs with round tube welded verticaly to each end of the square tube, the round tube rides inside 1x1 square tube welded to the inside of each leg, the round tube is forced down lifting the table by 2 cams mounted to a piece of 1/2 black pipe that is mounted through each leg above the round tube, turn the 1/2 black pipe the table lifts, turn the other direction the table drops back down on its legs.

craig

 

[trvshonda]

Here is my table i built a few months ago. Its all out of 2" square tube. As for the casters I used 2" square tube and slid 1 3/4" square (Not 100% on exact size i would have to measure them again cause i might be off on that) tube into it. On the 2" piece i welded in a 1/4" piece i cut to fit inside the 2" tube and drilled a 13/16" hole in the plates and welded a nut to the plate for the 3/4" bolt to press down on the 1 3/4" tube and push the casters down and lift the table. I also had to make a plate to cap the end of the 1 3/4" square tube so the bolt had some where to push against. If that doesnt make any sense just let me know and i can get you a better picture of the table and the caster setup.

 

[wrench409]

I thought this solution was nifty when I saw it. Have always thought I'd do something similar when I make my own welding table.

This is the idea I'll be doing. Thanks!

 

[bams50]

I thought this solution was nifty when I saw it. Have always thought I'd do something similar when I make my own welding table.

Brilliant idea!

It's stuff like this that makes me check the GJ at least twice a day- looking for nuggets of gold like this. Makes it well worth wading through all the 'my girlfriend cheated on me' and 'my SIL really ticks me off' and 'bang his wife' silliness

Thanks for posting that!

 

[1320stang]

Look at the tablesaw kits, they have what you're looking for in ideas.

 

[shoot summ]

I thought this solution was nifty when I saw it. Have always thought I'd do something similar when I make my own welding table.

That is really slick, only issue I would have is any large irregularity in the shop floor.

Look at the tablesaw kits, they have what you're looking for in ideas.

I'm actually watching this thread as I am building a new mobile base for the Unisaw I am restoring. I've pondered a number of different options, using a pallet jack modified, a table lift, or even my own fabricated setup. I keep coming back to the simplicity of the mobile base on my contractors saw, flip the one wheel down and move it around. So I will probably have something very close to that design. I do like the idea of using a trailer jack in the design.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...dwords!6456&keyword=product_ad_50939&type=pla

One issue I have is a 3/4" transition between the garage and my driveway(where I do alot of work with the saw when it is nice outside). The smaller wheels on the mobile saw bases do not handle the transition well.

 

[Voi]

Norm Abrams built a bench on one of his shows that had a plate with casters that rotated on hinges. I think he used a pry bar to lift up one end and the plate would flip over and the casters would be on the floor.

I never saw the episode but have seen numerous expamples on the net over the years. I assume with a welding table you'd have to use a floor jack.

Sorry if this idea has already been posted. I'll try to find a link later if I remember.

 

[A**holes Garage]

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2003703/2023/woodriver-retracting-casters.aspx


http://www.woodcraft.com/product/20...ine-leveling-caster-plate-mounted-4-pack.aspx

 

[ksp]

I am building a 4 x 6 welding table with 2" x 1/4" tube frame and a 1/2" top. I used 6" steel casters and will also mount harbor freight sidewinder trailer jacks on all 4 corners. I am thinking about gear motors to operate them to adjust level and height of table. I purposely built the table low and then will use the jacks to raise it to the appropriate height when needed. The jacks also go down to stabilize the table and keep it from rolling.

 

[flippin]

Here is how I move my massive wooden bench with a 1200-pound 3-in-1 machine on it. I built the leg cross pieces at the correct height for my 12-ton, air-over-hydraulic jack, then lift the bench up onto wheel dollies to move it around. Once you set the bench back down, it is as stable as a boulder...
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Kev

After reading the original question when it came out a few weeks ago I had a similar idea to what Kev has beautifully demonstrated here. It really comes down to how frequently you will be moving the table. Some of the options and effort required to create these rolling platforms seems unnecessary unless you're moving the table all the time. Either purchase the snowmobile dollies or build something similar then you could move every piece in your shop.

 

[trvshonda]

Here is a couple better pictures of how i did my table. It is 4'x6' 3/8" top, 2" square tube and used 1/4" diamond plate to cover the bottom shelf to set 3 of my Durham boxes and store some clamps.

 

[BLJ]

i've seen something similar to trvshonda above. instead of the bolts to adjust the height of the table, there was a small scissor jack at each corner. to raise it up and down you could put the handle for the jack in a drill and raise and lower each corner to what ever height you needed it to be. would work real good for an uneven floor

 

[trvshonda]

i've seen something similar to trvshonda above. instead of the bolts to adjust the height of the table, there was a small scissor jack at each corner. to raise it up and down you could put the handle for the jack in a drill and raise and lower each corner to what ever height you needed it to be. would work real good for an uneven floor

Ive seen one just like that and actually was going to do mine that way but the way i ended up doing mine i didnt have to go buy some scissor jacks so i did the bolts and just use my 18volt snap on impact and pick the table up in about 10 seconds.

 

[Builder302]

I thought this solution was nifty when I saw it. Have always thought I'd do something similar when I make my own welding table.

Thanks for the link, saw something similar in a family handy man mag and this is what I will use for my bench.

 

[BMB]

You could mount two straight rolling wheels on one end on the outer side of legs barely off the floor and mount a crank up trailer jack with a caster on the other end...

Kind of like this
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121829

 

[mdbeck1]

I need a little inspiration. I have a steel table that is roughly 300 pounds that I would like to occasionally move around the shop. I purchased 4 heavy duty casters but can't seem to think of a way to have the table roll and then retract the casters when I need it to be stationary. Any ideas?

I bought a HF scissor cart (the higher capacity one). I turns out that it fits under most of my work benches and will lift the workbench loaded with stuff. I can move it around and set it down pretty much without disturbing the stuff on the bench.

...and that scissor cart can be raised to be a temporary workbench... ...or a lawnmower lift... ...or.....

 

[kerr]

I honestly didn't see that thread . Thanks alot . I like this place for this very reason .

sorry.

 

[tomshep]

I am also pondering this issue and as one posted, my transition from the shop to the driveyway is 3/4" and then another 3/4" drop again for the garage door transition. I want a mobile table to get the grinding out of the shop.

I was considering making one end with larger wheels--at least 5". Maybe 8" if I can find them. I would even worry about putting fixed legs on that side.

The other end would need swivel casters and I was initally thinking about a cheap HF trailer tongue jack that I could swivel down to raise the swivel casters off the ground to give the table some stability.

Maybe someone can add to this idea.....

Tom

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

At the local metal supply, I saw these neat foot operated floor locks. Available in different heights, they were pretty cheap for what they do. It's just an 8" tall foot assembly for your table/equipment. Mount your casters so they are taller than the foot assembly is when retracted (3/4" is listed in one model, but the throw varies per model).

Roll it wherever you want, then when you're ready, just step on the pedal and it will overcenter a cam assembly, lifting the leg by 3/4" and off the caster. When it's in this position, it's a very solid assembly.

Affordable, easy, and I think I want to buy some to have handy for projects.

http://www.accesscasters.com/8astfl-standard-floor-lock.aspx

 

[EDGAR]

Here are some ideas from Youtube for retractable casters.